Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 83 - 79: Red Sun Jade Pendant

Chapter 83: Chapter 79: Red Sun Jade Pendant

"Chivalrous warrior, spare me!"

The Qi County Magistrate, who had been leisurely drinking tea, had never expected Li Ping’an to be so formidable. Indeed, as he had said, there was no need for him to act to kill the colonel who had been sent to his death.

With no other subordinates around the main hall of the Back Mansion of the Government Office, the County Magistrate now hugely regretted his actions, having truly trapped himself. Seeing the situation turn dire, he immediately showed his fear of death and knelt on the ground, frantically kowtowing:

"Chivalrous warrior, spare me! Chivalrous warrior, spare me! No! Immortal, spare me!"

"Hmph! Scared now, are you?"

After wiping his blood-stained Hundred Plays Steel Rod on the colonel’s body, Li Ping’an walked straight towards the Qi County Magistrate.

"Immortal, spare me! Just tell me how much money you want! As long as you can spare my life, I will immediately offer up all the money I’ve embezzled, extorted, blackmailed, and murdered for over these years!"

The Qi County Magistrate knew that Li Ping’an’s decision to kill without masking his face meant a resolute intent to kill, so he harbored no hope that Li Ping’an would spare him and thought of only delaying for time, waiting for Zuo Qianhu, a confidant of the State Preceptor, to hurry and save him!

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Your person is dirty and your money even dirtier. If I took your filthy money, I fear it would dirty my hands and corrupt my heart!"

Li Ping’an did not directly kill the Qi County Magistrate but picked up his pack from the table, slung it on his back, and then walked towards Zhuge Weiwei as if no one else was present.

"Thank you, chivalrous warrior, for sparing me!"

The Qi County Magistrate, seeing Li Ping’an walk away, suddenly rejoiced, thinking that Li Ping’an was really going to spare his life.

"I’ll give you ten counts. If you can escape the hall within ten calls, I’ll spare you!"

Zhuge Weiwei did not know what Li Ping’an was up to and immediately advised:

"Young man, if you don’t kill him, he will surely harm you! Don’t forget that Zuo Qianhu, the State Preceptor’s confidant, will be here any minute. He is the number one master in the Great Tang’s Jianghu. If he comes, you’re surely doomed!"

The Qi County Magistrate, fearing that Li Ping’an might change his mind, immediately stood up and took a step forward.

"One!"

"Thank you, Immortal, for sparing my life! With me being so dirty, I won’t soil the Immortal’s eyes anymore!"

The Qi County Magistrate, believing that Li Ping’an was serious and confident that he could escape the hall within ten calls, ran out of the hall as if he were flying, cursing that his parents hadn’t given him more legs, while Li Ping’an stopped calling the counts.

"Hmph!"

Just as the Qi County Magistrate escaped the hall, he turned back and glared fiercely at Li Ping’an. As long as he could get out of the hall, he would immediately call for help.

"Hahahaha! Wait for death!"

After escaping the hall, the Qi County Magistrate ran towards the front of the Government Office to seek help, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, he revealed his disgusting true face.

"Ten!"

Li Ping’an smiled wickedly and called out:

"Secluded Cave! Send God!"

Two Divine Skills were activated at once, and Li Ping’an immediately manipulated the ghosts looming near the Back Mansion of the Government Office with his mind, most of whom were innocent people killed by the Magistrate, including the soul of the colonel just slain by Li Ping’an.

Under Li Ping’an’s command, these ghosts quickly snatched the Qi County Magistrate back, who had escaped only ten meters away.

With a bang, the grand hall’s door slammed shut, and various fierce ghosts began to claim the Magistrate’s life.

This was the brilliance of Li Ping’an’s methods; if he had simply killed this corrupt official outright, it would have been too easy on him. He had to let him die amidst endless despair and fear to truly follow the Orthodox Path!

"Ghosts! Ghosts! Save me!"

No matter how the Qi County Magistrate screamed and struggled, he was bitten, strangled, and torn apart by various evil spirits.

In a bout of screaming, the Qi County Magistrate painful died amid terror, fear, and despair.

But in Zhuge Weiwei’s eyes, it seemed as if the Qi County Magistrate had escaped but then bizarrely ran back on his own, and then inexplicably died as if something had scared him to death, his body soiled with urine and feces, disgustingly enough.

"Mr. Zhuge, I killed a County Magistrate, and not just any magistrate but one from the feet of the world, so this matter will inevitably cause a great uproar. If you fall into the hands of Zuo Qianhu, you’ll likely suffer doubly. However, I can save you. Come with me," Li Ping’an said as he kindly extended his hand, waiting for Zhuge Weiwei to escape with him.

"No, I have already been exposed. The State Preceptor has a portrait of me offered by the Qi County Magistrate, and with the State Preceptor’s power, even if I escape today, I will be hunted nationwide eventually. People like me, who must skulk in the shadows, bring death and pursuit wherever we go, bringing slaughter to every corner. Hence, my leaving would only harm more innocent people."

Zhuge Weiwei made a respectful gesture towards Li Ping’an, his eyes filled with immense gratitude and relief.

"Then, if I escape now, you won’t betray me?"

Li Ping’an did not threaten, merely smiling at Zhuge Weiwei.

"No, go ahead and flee. I will take full responsibility for the murder."

Zhuge Weiwei then closed his eyes after speaking.

"Mr. Zhuge, you are a man of great integrity and ambition. I trust you. Take care!"

Li Ping’an then abandoned Zhuge Weiwei and fled into the night.

"Li Ping’an, wait..."

Zhuge Weiwei suddenly called out to Li Ping’an.

"Mr. Zhuge, having second thoughts?"

Li Ping’an turned back to look.

"Not at all. I never regret my actions, but I would like to ask you a favor."

"This..."

Li Ping’an was about to refuse, but he saw the hopeful look in the nearly eighty-year-old, defenseless old man before him, a man on the brink of death pleading for help, and at last, his compassion was stirred.

"Tell me, as long as it’s not about killing, arson or anything against my conscience, I’m willing to help."

"Good! Good lad!"

Zhuge Weiwei nodded in gratitude and then continued,

"Help me deliver a message to the leader of the Futang Group, Savior."

"What message?"

Li Ping’an listened intently.

"If destiny remains hidden, do not compete. But if destiny reveals itself, please tell Emperor of Tang, Li Gai, to embrace his death!"

"Right! I’ll remember that," Li Ping’an silently noted and then asked,

"But I’m not one of your Futang Group. How will I meet Savior?"

"Our group’s leaders and members always meet masked. Except for Savior and a few leaders, the lower members do not know our faces. We recognize each other by tokens and secret phrases."

"What token? What kind of secret phrase?" Li Ping’an asked.

"The secret phrase is: ’The red sun overhead, and the crimson xia fills the sky!’"

When Zhuge Weiwei spoke, he took off a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Li Ping’an. Upon careful examination, Li Ping’an saw that this jade pendant was plain and similar to ordinary ones in texture, not particularly valuable. However, at the top of the pendant was a piece resembling a red sun, below which were carved scenes of peasants looking up at the sun while tilling the fields.

"You can wear this jade pendant with ease. In times of danger, members of the Futang Group will surely save you. When you meet them, simply say you are my Buddhist Disciple."

"In today’s world, with your skills, you could undertake great enterprises. However, you are naive and inexperienced in the ways of the world; these skills of yours are indeed a double-edged sword!"